Splitters are usually made of a carbon honeycomb on top level cars like the M8 you reference. They are incredibly stiff for their weight and why they can get away with not using stanchions. If you tried to do the same size splitter with plywood it would either need to weigh a ton since it would be thick like crazy, or will bend to the point of not being effective. Stanchions are a good thing - embrace them.
-Mark
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